Today, Senate Bill 941, legislation which seeks to expand background checks to private transfers, passed the House Rules Committee and will now head to the floor for a final vote by the full House of Representatives. This bill was voted out of Committee today in a work session after receiving more than seven hours of both invited and public testimony on Wednesday.
Opposition testimony was led by NRA, Oregon Firearms Federation, Sheriff Tim Svenson from Yamhill County, and Sheriff John Hamlin from Douglas County. Following in opposition were numerous county commissioners including Chris Perry of Wheeler County, Paul Castillia of Wallowa County, Kevin Cameron of Marion County, Stan Primozich of Yamhill County, Chris Boice and Tim Freeman of Douglas County, and Tootie Smith of Clackamas County. Several gun stores and the Oregon Hunters Association also joined with opposition testimony at the hearing.
As previously reported, SB 941 would require individuals to appear before a gun dealer to request a criminal background check prior to privately transferring a firearm, absent limited exceptions. Transfers include, but are not limited to, sales, gifts, loans and leases. Failure to comply with this mandate could result in stiff penalties and possible loss of an individual’s right to keep and bear arms.
SB 941, like many other gun control schemes, is a step towards the full registration of firearms. In January 2013, the Department of Justice said that background checks on all firearm transfers “depends on…requiring gun registration.”
Please call and email your state Representative and urge him or her to OPPOSE Senate Bill 941. Also, please forward this email to friends, family and fellow Second Amendment supporters in Oregon and encourage them to do the same.
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